Teenager Sexually Assaulted on 77 Bus on Way Home from School

Police issue CCTV still of man they wish to speak to

An appeal is being made to trace a man police wish to speak to in connection with a sexual assault that took place on a 77 bus last year.

A girl in her early teens was on her way home from school on 19 October, 2017, at around 3.15pm. The bus had just passed through Earlsfield and was near the junction with Wimbledon Road travelling in the direction of Tooting Broadway. The victim was on the lower deck when a man moved to stand next to the victim and kept leaning into her.

As the bus stopped at Wimbledon Road he used his left hand to touch the victim inappropriately and brushed his hand over her leg.

The girl immediately got off the bus and changed to the bus behind going in the same route to avoid being near her assailant. She called her friends who were still on the 77, who followed him into Tooting Broadway Station and reported his actions to a member of staff in the station.

The victim got off the following bus as she could see the bus she was assaulted on had stopped. The victim told the bus driver of the route 77 bus who informed the control room, who in-turn called the police.

The suspect is described as an Asian male wearing glasses and short grey facial hair. He was wearing a black coat at the time of the offence and believed to be aged between 30-40 and around 5ft 7in.

Police Constable Jonathan Weller, from the Met’s Road and Transport Policing Command, said, “No one should have to suffer sexual assault at any point in their lives. We will not tolerate any form of sexual incidents and we strongly urge anyone who has been a victim of this crime to call police and report it.”

Anyone with any information is asked to contact police on 101 and quote 5094/10Oct17. Alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.